Queensland: Local Governments to Take Decision over Fluoridation, Says Springborg

Lawrence Springborg, the Health Minister of Queensland has said that he was not at all concerned about the councils which are not considering water fluoridation. He expressed his support for the process but at the same time, he said that the decision relies completely on local governments.

It is learnt that a total of nine councils have rejected fluoridation in previous two months. Among these were major centres of Cairns, Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, as well as Cloncurry, Burdekin and the South Burnett.

All of these centres which have opted out of fluoridation represent around 500,000 people. The local governments are being driven by Merilyn Haines, who is one of the anti-fluoride activists. She was happy that she had significant influence over people.

However, Springborg said that he was supporter of fluoridation of water but he understands that people want to make different decisions. He also admitted that he don’t want to dictate decisions to the public as he respects their own opinions.

Dr. Michael Foley, the Brisbane Dental Hospital Director, is moving across Queensland and asking councils to keep fluoridating water. “That’s disappointing, I sympathize with them and councils have to look at their bottom line but the science is all on one side of the argument”, he said.